More proof of the reliability of ancient extrabiblical tradition

We are all familiar with this story out of ancient Christian antiquity (from the Infancy Gospel of Thomas):

III. 1 Now Jesus made of that clay twelve sparrows: and it was the Sabbath day. And a child ran and told Joseph, saying: Behold, thy child playeth about the brook, and hath made sparrows of the clay, which is not lawful. 2 And he when he heard it went and said to the child: Wherefore doest thou so and profaneth the Sabbath? But Jesus answered him not, but looked upon the sparrows and said: Go ye, take your flight, and remember me in your life. And at the word they took flight and went up into the air. And when Joseph saw it he was astonished.

Well, get this. Just to prove that he *does* stand in succession from Peter, Jesus’ chief disciple, Pope Benedict created 24 cardinals.

Speaking of birds, I am now ducking.